EpiccaTalks

Cassie

EpiccaTalks is the podcast for anyone and everyone living with an invisible illness. With your host, Cassie, we'll explore practical frameworks, actionable strategies, and personal stories that help you navigate the difficulties of day-to-day life; everything from sharpening your inner mindset, communicating with friends and family, dealing with burnout, making treatment suck just a bit less, and more. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with a chronic condition for years, you'll leave each episode empowered with new tools and strategies to put into action. Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences, perspectives, and practical strategies for navigating life with an invisible illness. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your circumstances. The host and guests are not responsible for actions taken based off of information shared in this podcast.

  1. 3d ago

    #13: How to Build a Morning Routine That Works on Your Worst Days

    Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode of Epicca Talks, host Cassie breaks down why traditional 12-step morning routines don't work for everyone, especially those living with chronic illness, and shares seven practical, flexible strategies for building a morning routine you can actually stick to. Topics Covered 0:41 — Why 12-step morning routines set unrealistic expectations1:40 — How chronic illness and sleep needs change what a realistic routine looks like3:04 — Giving yourself permission to be imperfect with your routine4:59 — Why a good morning routine starts the night before7:34 —  How to keep your phone out of reach8:55 — Writing down a short, foundational health checklist you'll actually follow10:26 — Adding optional "nice to do" items when you have extra energy11:17 — Doing a morning brain dump to manage worry and plan your day12:06 — Setting labeled timers to stay on track when brain fog hits13:14 — Why sustainable routines start small and build slowlyConnect with us: Follow @epiccatalks on Instagram and leave a comment on this episode with your morning routine tips — what works for you, and what did we miss? Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  2. Oct 30

    #12: Building a Business with Chronic Illness: Lisa Porto on Working With Your Energy, Capacity, and Bad Days

    Send us Fan Mail Lisa Porto is an accredited coach and experienced mentor who works with entrepreneurs managing chronic health conditions. Using her signature REST framework, she helps people build online businesses designed around their energy and capacity; not against it. In this conversation, Lisa shares her personal health journey, practical advocacy tips, and the systems she uses to help entrepreneurs with chronic illness thrive. Topics and Timestamps 0:00 — Health Journey — Lisa shares her ME/CFS and fibromyalgia diagnosis story triggered by glandular fever in 2017. 4:11 — Self-Advocacy — Lisa and Cassie discuss the frustration of being dismissed by doctors while already managing limited energy. 10:10 — Appointment Tips — Lisa's practical advice for navigating doctor’s appointments so you leave feeling heard. 12:27 — Career Pivot — A snowboarding accident prompts Lisa to leave the 9-to-5 and start a virtual assistant business. 19:43 — Business Model — Lisa's three pathways: coaching, tech services, and upcoming self-paced courses for chronic illness entrepreneurs. 26:40 — Invisible Illness — The "but you look fine" problem, the social media highlight reel, and learning to stop justifying your illness. 31:47 — Confidence Gap — Lisa identifies lack of self-belief as the #1 barrier for entrepreneurs with chronic illness. 37:39 — REST Framework — Lisa breaks down her signature system: Resilience/Energy/Mindset, Essential Foundations, Sales/Marketing, and Tech/Tools/Systems. 43:00 — Free Resources — Lisa shares her website, self-care toolkit, energy quiz, community, and bite-sized podcast. Lisa's Resources Free self-care toolkit https://site.empoweredonline.co.uk/self-care-toolkit Free business energy quiz https://site.empoweredonline.co.uk/business-health-quiz Join the free Chronic Entrepreneur Community https://site.empoweredonline.co.uk/free-community Free bite-sized podcast —https://site.empoweredonline.co.uk/privatepodcast Lisa also offers business support, website and marketing services, and coaching and mentoring. Connect with her at empoweredonline.co.uk.  Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances. Connect: Follow @epiccatalks on Instagram for guest announcements, and share your own story via DM or comment.

  3. Oct 23

    #11: No Pain, No Gain? Rethinking Fitness and Chronic Illness with Personal Trainer Bronte Thomas-Bush

    Send us Fan Mail In This Episode Cassie speaks with Bronte Thomas-Bush, a qualified personal trainer and former competitive swimmer, about growing up with an invisible illness, the mental health impact of years without answers, and how finding a community of people who understood her changed everything. After 13 years of unexplained pain, Bronte finally discovered she had McArdle's disease, a rare metabolic muscle disorder that affects roughly 1 in 100,000 people. But getting a diagnosis was only part of the journey. Bronte shares what living with McArdle's disease has taught her about exercise, listening to your body, and challenging the idea that progress has to mean pushing through pain. As a trainer, she explains how fitness can be adapted for people with chronic illness and what to look for in a trainer who understands your needs. Topics Covered 13 years without a diagnosis — Growing up with unexplained pain and finally getting answers (0:46)The mental toll of an invisible illness — Shame, sport, and feeling disconnected from your own body (3:55)Living with McArdle's disease — Everyday challenges, cold weather, and the six-second rule (8:23)Finding people who understand — How connecting with AGSD changed Bronte's outlook (11:38)Knowing when to push and when to stop — The second wind phenomenon and learning to listen to your body (15:20)Making fitness work with chronic illness — Adapting exercise through home workouts, daily walks, and realistic consistency (20:00)Finding the right personal trainer — Adapting exercise for disabled clients and moving beyond quick fixes (24:41)Turning a diagnosis into purpose — What Bronte would tell her younger self and how her condition led to friendships around the world (31:24)Resources Mentioned AGSD UK — The Association for Glycogen Storage Disease, which supports people affected by glycogen storage diseases.Connect with EpiccaTalks Follow @epiccatalks on Instagram for new episodes and guest announcements. Have a story about living with an invisible illness? Send us a DM or leave a comment. We'd love to hear from you. Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  4. Oct 16

    #10: Burning Out When You're Already Depleted & Why It's Different When You're Chronically Ill

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Cassie breaks down what burnout actually is, and how it affects people with invisible illness differently than the average person. Drawing on the Oxford English Dictionary's historical definition ("to burn until extinguished by want of fuel"), she reframes burnout as a problem of depleted resources, not character or work ethic.  Topics Covered: What burnout actually is (and what it isn't)The Oxford English Dictionary definition of burnout as "burning until extinguished by want of fuel"How burnout compounds when you're already operating from limited energyIllness-related burnout from navigating the medical systemThe difficulty of distinguishing burnout symptoms from illness symptomsThree strategies for supporting yourself during burnout: specific routine change-ups, scheduling things to look forward to, and giving yourself time to (in Cassie's words) be a potato.Why there's no silver bullet — and why small steps and small wins matterDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  5. Oct 9

    #9: Vishay Karia on Navigating Founder Life with ADHD, Anxiety and Depression

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Cassie sits down with Vishay Karia, a two-time founder, to explore life with invisible illness; specifically ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Vishay shares his journey from an undiagnosed childhood in London, through years of masking his true self, to a turning point at university where he finally felt accepted for who he was. They discuss the interconnected nature of anxiety, stress, and depression; coping mechanisms rooted in understanding what you can and can't control; and how leaning into ADHD rather than fighting it became a creative superpower in entrepreneurship. The conversation also covers men's mental health, the importance of vulnerability and communication, practical systems for reducing mental load, navigating burnout, and the Eisenhower Matrix for managing attention as a finite resource. Topics & Timestamps: Intro & guest background (~0:40)Growing up different: ADHD before diagnosis (~1:30)Masking, therapy, and formal diagnosis (~2:45)Anxiety, stress, and depression as "worry in different time zones" (~3:20)Coping mechanism: focusing on what you can control (~5:00)University as a turning point — acceptance and self-worth (~5:40)Mental health in South Asian and minority backgrounds (~8:00)Men's mental health: sport as the only emotional outlet (~11:30)The need for systemic change starting in early childhood (~12:50)Practical strategies: leaning into ADHD with systems and routines (~14:30)Reducing mental load through calendar systems (~16:00)ADHD as a creative superpower in entrepreneurship (~17:00)Navigating burnout: the antidote is the opposite of what ADHD wants (~20:00)The Eisenhower Matrix and protecting your attention (~23:00)Advice for someone struggling: talk to the right people (~24:30)Out-of-pocket question: Touch Grass Day (~27:00)Where to find Vishay: Eagle: eagleapp.usDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  6. Oct 2

    #8: Paul Cyprus on OCD, PTSD, and How A Smile From A Stranger Saved His Life

    Send us Fan Mail Content Warning: This episode discusses mental health conditions, wrongful diagnosis, medication, addiction, suicidal ideation, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.  In This Episode: Cassie sits down with Paul to discuss his 18-year journey of being wrongfully diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, the impact of being medicated with clozapine — a drug that actually compounded his OCD — and how a single smile from a stranger became the turning point in his life. They explore the role of community, creativity, and connection in managing invisible illness, and Paul shares his hard-won philosophy on success, self-advocacy, and keeping going when things get dark. Key Topics & Timestamps: 0:37 — Guest introduction and Paul's mental health conditions2:29 — The wrongful paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis and 18 years on clozapine8:08 — Living with OCD: invisible thought loops, rituals, and coping strategies11:33 — Finding community at a local coffee shop and the moment someone realized he hadn't been around14:23 — Rediscovering creativity: poetry, synthesizers, and chess as therapy24:51 — The turning point: a smile from a stranger in Trent Park33:13 — Redefining success: from owning things to being happy for half an hour37:42 — Advice for someone struggling: be kind to yourself, talk to someone40:26 — The out-of-pocket question: an ultimate chess battle with any musicianDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  7. Sep 25

    #7: Yesterday I Could, Today I Can’t: Learning to Live With the Extreme Variability of Invisible Illness

    Send us Fan Mail EpiccaTalks #7: Yesterday I Could, Today I Can’t: Learning to Live With the Extreme Variability of Invisible Illness In this solo episode, Cassie unpacks one of the most frustrating aspects of living with an invisible illness: the unpredictability. Unlike acute illness, chronic conditions don't follow a linear pattern; capacity can fluctuate hour to hour with no discernible pattern. Cassie shares three practical strategies for managing this variability, plus advice for friends, family, and supporters of people with invisible illnesses. Topics Covered Why the biggest misconception about invisible illness is the idea of consistency — and how chronic conditions don't follow a "sick then better" pattern like the fluHow variability can shift hour to hour or even minute to minute, often with no identifiable patternThe reality that your capacity isn't fixed — what you could handle yesterday may not be possible todayWhy people only see you in your energetic moments, and how putting on a front makes it even harder to explain what's really going onTools for those with invisible illnesses to help with variable capacity: the Eisenhower Matrix, helping your future self, and proactive communicationWays loved ones can support those with illnesses, why it’s a capacity and not a desire issue, and how flexible plans can make all the difference in keeping connection consistentResources Mentioned: The Eisenhower Matrix Learn more about the Eisenhower matrix and download a PDF at https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/If you want Cassie to unpack the EM in-depth in a future episode, leave a comment below!Connect with EpiccaTalks Follow us @epiccatalks on Instagram and LinkedIn! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  8. Sep 18

    #6: Deborah Bircham on Living Well with Lyme, MCAS & Chronic Illness

    Send us Fan Mail EpiccaTalks #6: Deborah Bircham In this episode, Cassie sits down with Deborah Bircham, a registered health coach and mindfulness teacher, to discuss her decades-long journey with invisible illness. From an early age, Deborah grappled with unexplained pain and fatigue, and experienced a catastrophic collapse at age 40 that led to a diagnosis of Lyme disease and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Deborah shares how she navigated healthcare after being dismissed by doctors, the role of tick-borne co-infections, and how her health crisis led her to become a mindfulness teacher and health coach. Topics Covered: Why a missing bullseye rash doesn't mean you're in the clear for Lyme diseaseThe hidden co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia, Rickettsia) that hitch a ride with tick bites — and why they get missedHow chronic illness can be misdiagnosed as a mental health conditionThe real science behind mindfulness: what it does to your amygdala and prefrontal cortexWhy your nervous system can get "stuck" — and how that's a physical issue, not a personal failingGrieving the identity and life you thought you'd have, and what "acceptance" actually meansFinding a new sense of self when illness strips away who you thought you wereA Note On Lyme Not all ticks in the UK carry Lyme, but if you get bitten by a tick, it's important to seek healthcare from a qualified source promptly. Check out resources from Lyme Disease UK https://lymediseaseuk.com/help-ive-been-bitten-by-a-tick/ or the American Lyme Disease Foundation https://aldf.com/tick-identification-and-information/#prevent. Connect with Deborah Check out Deborah's work at https://livewellwithchronicillness.co.uk/, shoot her an email at livewellwithchronicillness@outlook.com, or on social media at Live Well With Chronic Illness. Want More EpiccaTalks? Connect with us @epiccatalks on Instagram! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

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About

EpiccaTalks is the podcast for anyone and everyone living with an invisible illness. With your host, Cassie, we'll explore practical frameworks, actionable strategies, and personal stories that help you navigate the difficulties of day-to-day life; everything from sharpening your inner mindset, communicating with friends and family, dealing with burnout, making treatment suck just a bit less, and more. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with a chronic condition for years, you'll leave each episode empowered with new tools and strategies to put into action. Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences, perspectives, and practical strategies for navigating life with an invisible illness. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your circumstances. The host and guests are not responsible for actions taken based off of information shared in this podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Cassie
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 EpiccaTalks
  • Show Website
    EpiccaTalks